Beautiful: meaning, definitions and examples

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beautiful

 

[ หˆbjuหtษชfสŠl ]

Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

appearance

Pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically. Beautiful describes something that is attractive, delightful, or charming. It often refers to physical appearance but can also be used to describe feelings, experiences, or objects.

Synonyms

attractive, charming, gorgeous, lovely, stunning.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
beautiful

Used to describe someone or something that is very pleasing to the senses or mind. Itโ€™s a general term that can apply to a wide variety of subjects, both tangible and intangible.

  • The sunset over the ocean was absolutely beautiful
  • She has a beautiful smile
attractive

Often used to describe someone who is good-looking or has a pleasing appearance. It can also refer to things that draw attention because of their appealing features.

  • He is an attractive man with a great sense of humor
  • The company offers an attractive benefits package
lovely

Appropriate for situations where something is pleasant, enjoyable, or has a delicate beauty. It is often used to describe people, places, or experiences in a gentle manner.

  • We had a lovely time at the park
  • She has a lovely singing voice
gorgeous

Used to describe someone or something that is extremely beautiful, often in an opulent or luxurious way.

  • She wore a gorgeous dress to the gala
  • The view from the mountaintop was absolutely gorgeous
stunning

Used to describe something or someone that is so beautiful it takes your breath away or leaves you astonished. Itโ€™s often used for dramatic emphasis.

  • The bride looked stunning on her wedding day
  • The movie has some stunning special effects
charming

Best suited for situations where someone's personality or actions are delightful and captivating. It often implies charisma and friendliness.

  • He has a charming manner that makes everyone feel at ease
  • The little village is so charming with its cobblestone streets

Examples of usage

  • The sunset was so beautiful that it took my breath away.
  • She has a beautiful smile that lights up the room.
  • The flowers in the garden are so beautiful in full bloom.
Context #2 | Adjective

nature

Of a very high standard; excellent. Beautiful can also be used to describe something that is of exceptional quality or skill.

Synonyms

excellent, outstanding, splendid, superb, top-notch.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
beautiful

Use this word primarily to describe someone or something that looks very attractive or pleasing to the senses, such as a person, place, or object.

  • The sunset over the ocean was absolutely beautiful
  • She looked beautiful in her wedding dress
excellent

This word is often used to describe something that is of very high quality or very good, usually in terms of performance, skill, or ability.

  • The meal was excellent
  • He did an excellent job on the project
outstanding

Generally used to denote exceptional quality or excellence, often standing out significantly from others in a particular category.

  • Her performance in the play was outstanding
  • They have an outstanding reputation for customer service
superb

Used when something is extremely good or excellent, often used for things that are done exceptionally well or of top quality.

  • The hotel provides superb service
  • His performance in the match was simply superb
splendid

Typically used to express something that is magnificent or very impressive, often with a sense of grandness or great beauty.

  • The ballroom was splendidly decorated
  • They had a splendid time at the party
top-notch

Informal term often used to describe something of the highest quality, usually in terms of services, products, or skills.

  • Their customer support is top-notch
  • She's a top-notch lawyer

Examples of usage

  • She performed a beautiful piece of music on the piano.
  • The artist created a beautiful painting that captured the essence of the landscape.
Context #3 | Adjective

general

Used to express admiration, approval, or affection. Beautiful can be a simple expression of praise or admiration for something or someone.

Synonyms

amazing, fantastic, great, marvelous, wonderful.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
beautiful

Used to describe someone or something that is visually pleasing or attractive. Suitable for both people and scenery.

  • She looked beautiful in her wedding dress.
  • The sunset over the mountains was absolutely beautiful.
wonderful

Used to describe something that brings a lot of pleasure, delight, or positive feelings.

  • We had a wonderful vacation in Italy.
  • Her kids are just wonderful.
amazing

Used to describe something that inspires great wonder, surprise, or admiration.

  • The magician's tricks were amazing.
  • It's amazing how technology has advanced over the years.
fantastic

Used to express excitement or enthusiasm about something, often something that is exceptionally good or impressive.

  • The concert last night was fantastic!
  • You did a fantastic job on the presentation.
marvelous

Used to describe something that is extremely good or pleasing, often used in more formal or old-fashioned contexts.

  • The meal was simply marvelous.
  • Her performance was marvelous.
great

Used in a variety of positive contexts to describe something that is very good, important, or large.

  • You did a great job with the project.
  • We had a great time at the park.

Examples of usage

  • What a beautiful gesture of kindness!
  • He has a beautiful soul that shines through in everything he does.

Translations

Translations of the word "beautiful" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น bonito

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเฅเค‚เคฆเคฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช schรถn

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ cantik

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะณะฐั€ะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ piฤ™kny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็พŽใ—ใ„ (utsukushii)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท beau

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ hermoso

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท gรผzel

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์•„๋ฆ„๋‹ค์šด (areumdaun)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฌู…ูŠู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ krรกsnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ krรกsny

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็พŽไธฝ (mฤ›ilรฌ)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ lep

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ fallegur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ำ™ะดะตะผั–

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒšแƒแƒ›แƒแƒ–แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ gรถzษ™l

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ hermoso

Etymology

The word 'beautiful' originated from the Middle English word 'bewteful,' which was derived from the Old French word 'bealte.' The root of the word can be traced back to the Latin word 'bellus,' meaning 'handsome' or 'beautiful.' Over time, the meaning of 'beautiful' has evolved to encompass a wide range of qualities that are pleasing to the senses or mind.

See also: beautician, beautification, beautified, beautifier, beautifully, beautify, beautifying.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,269, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.